Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads

<p class="tit-song">ROOT HOG OR DIE <span class="pagenum"><SPAN id="page254" name="page254"></SPAN>(p. 254)</span></p> <p>When I was a young man I lived on the square,<br/> I never had any pocket change and I hardly thought it fair;<br/> So out on the crosses I went to rob and to steal,<br/> And when I met a peddler oh, how happy I did feel.</p> <p>One morning, one morning, one morning in May<br/> I seen a man a-coming, a little bit far away;<br/> I seen a man a-coming, come riding up to me<br/> "Come here, come here, young fellow, I'm after you to-day."</p> <p>He taken me to the new jail, he taken me to the new jail,<br/> And I had to walk right in.<br/> There all my friends went back on me<br/> And also my kin.</p> <p>I had an old rich uncle, who lived in the West,<br/> He heard of my misfortune, it wouldn't let him rest;<br/> He came to see me, he paid my bills and score,&mdash;<br/> I have been a bad boy, I'll do so no more.</p> <p>There's Minnie and Alice and Lucy likewise,<br/> They heard of my misfortune brought tears to their eyes.<br/> I've <span class="pagenum"><SPAN id="page255" name="page255"></SPAN>(p. 255)</span> told 'em my condition, I've told it o'er and o'er;<br/> So I've been a bad boy, I'll do so no more.</p> <p>I will go to East Texas to marry me a wife,<br/> And try to maintain her the balance of my life;<br/> I'll try to maintain; I'll lay it up in store<br/> I've been a bad boy, I'll do so no more.</p> <p>Young man, you robber, you had better take it fair,<br/> Leave off your marshal killing and live on the square;<br/> Should you meet the marshal, just pass him by;<br/> And travel on the muscular, for it's root hog or die.</p> <p>When I drew my money I drew it all in cash<br/> And off to see my Susan, you bet I cut a dash;<br/> I spent my money freely and went it on a bum,<br/> And I love the pretty women and am bound to have my fun.</p> <p>I used to sport a white hat, a horse and buggy fine,<br/> Courted a pretty girl and always called her mine;<br/> But all my courtships proved to be in vain,<br/> For they sent me down to Huntsville to wear the ball and chain.</p> <p>Along came my true love, about twelve o'clock,<br/> Saying, "Henry, O Henry, what sentence have you got?"<br/> The jury found me guilty, the judge would allow no stay,<br/> So they sent me down to Huntsville to wear my life away.</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />